Saturday, March 14
RiverWinds
5 p.m.
Drexel University
5
vs
0
NJIT
Photo by: Greg Carroccio
Women's Tennis Earns 12th Win of the Year Saturday Against NJIT
3/14/2015 11:26:00 PM | Women's Tennis
PHILADELPHIA – Women's tennis gained its 12th win of the season, earning a win over NJIT Saturday evening at RiverWinds Golf and Tennis Center, 5-0. The Dragons' men fell, 2-4, on the evening.
Drexel's women are now 12-1 on the year overall. The Dragons' men are 10-6, one win away for the first 11-win season in school history.
"The women had a plan going into the match, and they focused on that plan throughout the match," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "The plan is to fight for every point, play what the ball gives them and show toughness through body language. They did it over and over until it became who we are. I'm a proud coach. I ask for a lot, and they put in the work. We're not just a team, we're a family.
"On the men's side, we had the match in hand, but we didn't manage the tough moments well. I could see it in our eyes; we looked worried. They wanted to win so bad. All this year's losses have taught us so much heading into CAA matches. We need to use this pain to make us stronger. As a team, we are so close to the goal. We just need to keep it up."
The men faced a tough Highlanders squad and held strong before ultimately falling. Alex Fioravante earned a 6-4, 6-4 win from the third spot, while Hamza Laalej cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 win. Xabier Saavedra continued a strong run, forcing three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 10-5. Badr Ouabdelmoumen also forced three sets in the top spot, but ultimately fell, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-5.
Starting with singles play, Nicole Pivonka, Erin Bowsher and Clary Rodriguez Cruz set the tone for the Dragons. Pivonka won a first-set tiebreaker on her way to a 7-6 (5), 6-3, win. Bowsher then won, 6-1, 7-6 (2). The freshman, Rodriguez Cruz, took home the 6-3, 6-3 victory. In the second half of singles, Lea Winkler saved three match points on her way to victory, winning a three-set match to seal the win, 4-6, 7-6 (8), 10-7. Ryshena Providence also added a 6-3, 6-0 victory from the No. 5 position.
The Dragons hit the road for their toughest test of the year, travelling to Orlando, Fla. to take on Central Florida on March 27.
--
Women: Drexel 5, NJIT 0
Singles
Nicole Pivonka (DU) def. Carolina Zanotta (NJIT) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Erin Bowsher (DU) def. Nathalie Habegger (NJIT) 6-1, 7-6 (2)
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) def. Albas Rosas Garcia (NJIT) 6-3, 6-3
Lea Winkler (DU) def. Ines Vujkovac (NJIT) 4-6, 7-6 (8), 10-7
Ryshena Providence (DU) def. Natalija Tasovac (NJIT) 6-3, 6-0
Kendra Bunch (DU) unfinished Sydney Nowak (NJIT) 5-3
Men: Drexel 2, NJIT 4
Singles
Markus Schultz (NJIT) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen (DU) 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-5
Andres Alban (NJIT) def. Kashyap Ashok (DU) 6-1, 6-1
Alex Fioravante (DU) def. Arnaud Holl (NJIT) 6-4, 6-4
Jan Cimrman (NJIT) def. Xabier Saavedra (DU) 3-6, 6-3, 10-5
Hamza Laalej (DU) def. Luka Kaic (NJIT) 6-3, 6-0
Carl Jedlindski (NJIT) def. Dan Koehler (DU) 6-4, 6-3
Drexel's women are now 12-1 on the year overall. The Dragons' men are 10-6, one win away for the first 11-win season in school history.
"The women had a plan going into the match, and they focused on that plan throughout the match," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "The plan is to fight for every point, play what the ball gives them and show toughness through body language. They did it over and over until it became who we are. I'm a proud coach. I ask for a lot, and they put in the work. We're not just a team, we're a family.
"On the men's side, we had the match in hand, but we didn't manage the tough moments well. I could see it in our eyes; we looked worried. They wanted to win so bad. All this year's losses have taught us so much heading into CAA matches. We need to use this pain to make us stronger. As a team, we are so close to the goal. We just need to keep it up."
The men faced a tough Highlanders squad and held strong before ultimately falling. Alex Fioravante earned a 6-4, 6-4 win from the third spot, while Hamza Laalej cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 win. Xabier Saavedra continued a strong run, forcing three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 10-5. Badr Ouabdelmoumen also forced three sets in the top spot, but ultimately fell, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-5.
Starting with singles play, Nicole Pivonka, Erin Bowsher and Clary Rodriguez Cruz set the tone for the Dragons. Pivonka won a first-set tiebreaker on her way to a 7-6 (5), 6-3, win. Bowsher then won, 6-1, 7-6 (2). The freshman, Rodriguez Cruz, took home the 6-3, 6-3 victory. In the second half of singles, Lea Winkler saved three match points on her way to victory, winning a three-set match to seal the win, 4-6, 7-6 (8), 10-7. Ryshena Providence also added a 6-3, 6-0 victory from the No. 5 position.
The Dragons hit the road for their toughest test of the year, travelling to Orlando, Fla. to take on Central Florida on March 27.
--
Women: Drexel 5, NJIT 0
Singles
Nicole Pivonka (DU) def. Carolina Zanotta (NJIT) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Erin Bowsher (DU) def. Nathalie Habegger (NJIT) 6-1, 7-6 (2)
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) def. Albas Rosas Garcia (NJIT) 6-3, 6-3
Lea Winkler (DU) def. Ines Vujkovac (NJIT) 4-6, 7-6 (8), 10-7
Ryshena Providence (DU) def. Natalija Tasovac (NJIT) 6-3, 6-0
Kendra Bunch (DU) unfinished Sydney Nowak (NJIT) 5-3
Men: Drexel 2, NJIT 4
Singles
Markus Schultz (NJIT) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen (DU) 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-5
Andres Alban (NJIT) def. Kashyap Ashok (DU) 6-1, 6-1
Alex Fioravante (DU) def. Arnaud Holl (NJIT) 6-4, 6-4
Jan Cimrman (NJIT) def. Xabier Saavedra (DU) 3-6, 6-3, 10-5
Hamza Laalej (DU) def. Luka Kaic (NJIT) 6-3, 6-0
Carl Jedlindski (NJIT) def. Dan Koehler (DU) 6-4, 6-3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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